Former POLA Executive to Direct Port Authority of New York, New Jersey

NEW YORK — Former Port of Los Angeles Executive Director Molly Campbell has been chosen to become the next port of commerce director at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Campbell will succeed Richard Larrabee, who is retiring after 15 years, on July 27. One of Campbell’s first tasks will be continuing Larrabee’s work on helping coordinate implementation of 23 recommendations issued this past year by a port performance task force appointed to find ways to improve efficiency and reliability, and reduce congestion and delays.

The port authority also is in the midst of a $1.3 billion project to raise the roadway of the Bayonne Bridge, which now prevents large ships from serving most port container terminals. The existing bridge roadway is scheduled to be raised next year.

Campbell joined the Port of Los Angeles in 2000 as chief financial officer and in January 2007 was promoted to deputy executive director. In that post, she was responsible for strategic development projects, operations and maintenance and management of the port’s annual operating and capital budgets.

Recently, she was named director of financial management systems at Los Angeles World Airports for Los Angeles.

At the Port of Los Angeles, Campbell served as vice chairwoman of the International Association of Ports and Harbors’ finance committee and the chairwoman of the American Association of Port Authorities’ maritime economic development committee.  She also was a member of the city planning commission in Long Beach.